Reaching For The Stars

Chapter 34

Artume

"I shouldn't..."

"I have consented to it, Annabeth. You should not feel guilty or worried."

"It's not for me!" Annabeth said, turning to Artume. "It's your throne, Artume! A demigod should never sit on a God's throne. The audacity..."

Artume sighed. It was the first thing Artume wished for Annabeth to experience: to sit on her throne and see the world through the stars. Harmless. After all, it is not a throne like those on Olympus. Her power is not bound to her throne. She never would want that either. The Gods are fools if they would wish for such a thing. While her throne is still part of her realm, her own source of power is not linked to it. She carved it out of stars, and those allow whoever sits on it, with her consent, to see everything touched by the silver light of the starry night.

"I do not understand, Annabeth. It's not bound to me. One could see it as a chair with some powers to it," Artume said as she let another sigh escape her. "Besides, who will see? None of the Gods can peek inside my palace. Aside from Iris, but she rarely does."

"Why are you so pushy when it comes to it? Truly, you're a strange Goddess..."

"At least I am your strange Goddess..." Artume teased with a smile, placing a swift kiss on her cheek. "Very well. If you don't wish to, I will let it go. Come, I have more to show."

"You didn't answer my question," Annabeth asked as Artume linked arms to guide her to another part of the palace.

Each hall was made of dark metals that were fitted with innumerable dots of silver. Every constellation came and went. The birth of new stars could be seen on the floors, roofs, and walls. As Artume passed the stars, they seemed to become brighter, and stars were born at a more rapid pace. Annabeth watched with an awe-struck gaze at everything around her. Even the simplest of furniture was uniquely made with silver and dark metal.

"I thought it would be fun to have you see the world through the stars," Artume said, her hand gesturing to a handful of stars, forming the Cancer constellation. The constellation under which Annabeth was born. The blonde smiled with rosy cheeks as she saw it.

"Perhaps when it is better suited? I love the idea, though," Annabeth said. "Where are we going?"

"Well, aside from making the stars bend my way to represent your constellation... My workspace. The place where I perform my magic, as mortals say."

"You're really pampering me by showing how the Gods work," Annabeth said, squeezing Artume's arm while snuggling a little into her as they walked. "I take it you'll be tempting me with something else again."

"Of course, but nothing large. You're not part of my realm, perhaps Nebula could have, but you're Athena's child. And the Wisdom Goddess has no power of the stars."

"I see," Annabeth said, letting Artume guide her through a plain silver door. "A plain door? Seems in stark contrast to what I have seen before."

"It's work, Annabeth. I don't always like it, and it's more out of duty than me enjoying it. I try to remind myself by keeping it plain," Artume explained.

Her eyes glanced over her room where the 'magic' happens. It was still split into three. The wishes cabinets have been emptied yet she groaned at the pace it fills. Humans wish for too much. They must do more themselves. A world is not built solely on wishes.

She liked the other aspects more. Not as well visited. The astronomy domain she liked along with the stars themselves. Those held fewer dealings with the Gods. The beings that made the whole granting wishes a frustrating and difficult process. At least her restructuring has made it all more manageable. That, in itself, made life much better. Mainly because of Aphrodite's less intrusive way of dipping her hand in her matters.